Dr Vladimir Ryabinin is the Executive Secretary of the IOC, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO.

He is an oceanographer, marine engineer, meteorologist, and climatologist. He originated several mathematical models for the ocean, atmosphere, wind waves, etc., and is an author of hundreds of scientific publications.

Since 1980s, Dr Ryabinin has been involved in various capacities in the activities of the United Nations and contributed to core design and coordination of such international initiatives, as the Global Ocean Observing System and the World Climate Research Programme.

His current focus is on the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a source of science-based solutions for integrated ocean management.